Market dictates what are fair wages

In response to “Filner sued by tourism district board” (Local, Feb. 23): San Diego is fortunate to have jobs in the tourism sector. Many of these jobs are perfect for college students and uneducated workers who are trying to find a job since those jobs offer a bridge to higher pay and advancement. While a living wage is a nice idea, thinking like this has pushed California into [being] one of the deepest, and most in-debt states. Time to wake up and understand that in a free society, freedom of business to compete effectively means that fair wages are what the market dictates, not what greedy unions believes makes sense for a select few. – Randy Lowe, San Diego

I support Mayor Filner’s efforts to gain benefits for the city and its workers. If the plutocrats think that it’s unseemly to pay people a living wage, too bad. No more sweetheart deals with big business. It’s time they pay their fair share.

And to the City Council members who think Mayor Filner is out of line, especially Democratic City Council members, you’d better give a hard look at your values and see if corruption isn’t leaking into your being through donations and perks. Time for someone to stand up to the robber barons of San Diego. I support Mayor Filner. – Robert Greenamyer, San Diego

A business that cannot (or will not) pay its workers a living wage is simply not a viable business. No amount of teeth-gnashing will change that. We need to support Mayor Filner’s efforts to ensure that all San Diegans can afford to live in the city powered by their labor. – Cutler Edwards, San Diego

It’s about time that elected officials used the people’s tax dollars for the purpose it was intended! Shame on you, Mayor Filner. You are out of compliance. Give the hotel tax money back or use it for its intended purpose. Tourism keeps San Diego in business. Instead do you intend to cost us even more money with a lawsuit? – Jonnie Johnson, El Cajon

Somebody has to stand up for the working people of this city. Finally. And that person is Bob Filner.

Too bad we don’t have any media that can explain the true state of affairs to a mislead populace.

Thank you Mr. Mayor. – Paul R. Stravinsky, San Diego

On Monday the City Council discussed the Tourism Marketing District (TDM). The discussion largely centered on wages, jobs and the economy. A discussion of any of these first requires a conclusion that the City should have a role in stimulating demand for a sector of private industry – in this case, tourism – through collecting an “assessment” and redistributing that to a private marketing district.

The TDM sends a clear message that the city is at least open to the idea of collecting marketing funds for industry sectors. What is the distinguishable difference between tourism and renewable energy? Biotech? Shipbuilding? And of course, the tourism industry can simply voluntarily organize to market San Diego without taxpayers’ help.

The bigger picture is the unquestioned commingling of politics and economics. The cornerstone of the American economic system is that there is no centralized system. That politicians don’t pick favorites among industry sectors. That a man on his way to market doesn’t stop by City Council to organize his marketing efforts first. Free-enterprise jurisdictions understand this, that the best thing to do for a capitalist is get out of his way.

With the City Council picking favorites Stalin-style, America’s Finest City suddenly doesn’t seem so American. And through a crowd of hoteliers and Republicans, Mayor Filner emerges the cowboy of capitalism. – Pete Sovereign, Rancho Bernardo

Get on board, it’s a new day in San Diego.

Bob Filner is your mayor, doing just what we elected him to do, serve the people of San Diego not corrupt corporations or the whims of our City Council. Simple enough. Get used to it. – Joy Cash, San Diego

I urge Mayor Filner to do everything he can to insure family wages here in San Diego. Income inequality in this country has become a major problem and drives so many other problems. Every societal metric (teen pregnancy, suicide, recidivism, etc.) worsens as income inequality increases. Doesn’t it just make sense to support the mayor? – Steve Haslet, North Park